Real Salt Lake – L.A. Galaxy 21.06.2012

Real Salt Lake – L.A. Galaxy 21.06.2012

Real Salt Lake’s Haitian Jean Alexandre will return from a short-term loan and could be available. Goalkeeper Nick Rimando has recorded six clean sheets so far this season.

The LA Galaxy’s super star David Beckham has accumulated four yellow cards and will suspended if he’s issued another. Mike Magee, Hector Jimenez and Michael Stephens will all return from their one-game suspensions. Andrew Boyens, Adam Cristman, Omar Gonzalez and Leonardo are all on the disabled list.

RSL stand at the top of the table, are unbeaten in their last seven league games and boast the best goal differential (+11) in the League. Real Salt Lake is coming off a 3-0 win over Chivas, where Fabian Espindola scored a brace and is now RSL’s all-time leading goalscorer in club history. Fabian Espindola and Alvaro Saborio lead RSL with six goals each and Javier Morales leads with four assists. Salt Lake are excellent at home (6-1-0).

On Sunday, the Galaxy broke their eight-game winless streak and recorded their only shut-out, a 1-0 win over Portland, in goalkeeper’s Josh Saunder’s first return to action after completing the MLS Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health program. In that game, instead of their usual 4-4-2, the Galaxy played a 4-3-3 with Chad Barrett as a lone central striker with Landon Donovan and Bryan Jordan on the wings. “Last season we played a lot of games like this where we won 1-nil and we kept the other teams in shutouts,” said Beckham. “We need more performances like this and we’re capable of it, so hopefully this will be our springboard.” But the Galaxy will have a tough time getting a shut-out at Rio Tinto. LA have a poor road record (1-4-1) and only have scored an unimpressive 16 goals.

Real Salt Lake, with their deep roster of two-way players, is favored over the Galaxy and I cant see them overcoming a very good RSL team who should win this match.